After reading your feedback and locking ourselves in dim, fluorescent-lit rooms for much deliberation, we have decided that we are NOT going to convert Valor to Justice and Justice to gold when 5.2 ships. Current Valor items will continue to require Valor in 5.2, and will be offered at a discount as listed in the PTR patch notes. Given that PvE and PvP currencies function quite a bit differently, Conquest will still convert to Honor and Honor to gold as previously discussed.

We’re making the Valor change for a couple of reasons, but primarily because we think a down-conversion under the new Mists endgame progression model just feels mean. We traditionally viewed this conversion process with each patch as a necessary evil to discourage hoarding—it’s not fun to feel like you can’t spend your Valor in the weeks before a new patch because you have to be ready to buy everything up. However, we have a Valor cap now to prevent excessive hoarding, many of the Valor rewards in 5.2 require raiding to acquire (for example, many of the ilevel-522 rewards are tied to Shado-Pan Assault reputation, which you’ll only gain rep with by raiding in the Throne of Thunder), and the LFR version has an ilvl-480 requirement, meaning you can’t hoard Valor on a brand new 90 and jump straight to the best stuff. All of these factors being considered, it doesn’t make good sense to take Valor away from players in this context. Down-conversions may occur for future patch releases depending on the circumstances, but for 5.2 it’s safe and snuggly where it is.

In addition, we’re making a change to ensure that there are some gear rewards available via the Kirin Tor Offensive and Sunreaver Onslaught, the two new factions with which players can earn reputation in 5.2 without raiding. The patch was shaping up to be a real challenge for players who don’t like raiding (including LFR), as our original design meant that no new Valor rewards would be available to them without needing to run Throne of Thunder. You can expect to see the Valor rewards on the Kirin Tor Offensive and Sunreaver Onslaught quartermasters updated on the 5.2 public test realms in the near future. These rewards are ilevel 496 and will only accommodate a few slots, as they aren’t intended to be very attractive to raiders (including those running LFR), but should give non-raiders something to shoot for in 5.2.

If you’ve already made plans and sank your Valor, don’t fret! As of this announcement, and even if you have 0 Valor currently, you still have enough time to cap out at 3000 Valor before patch 5.2 goes live. (It’s math!)

We’d love to hear your feedback about this change, and how you’re planning to earn, save, and spend Valor before the patch releases

So no. The difference isnt massive. I didnt say it was. But when raiding in a hardcore environment, If im doing 150,000 dps and I COULD be doing 150,001 dps, Im gonna go with the 1 dps increase.

Originally Posted by Sprucelee

Uh... no. I know you compulsively feel like you have to post first, and pretend to make insightful comments in a rush. But that is just wrong, and does not even make sense, ilvl is ilvl...

Im also really happy you felt the need to edit this in while I was posting while linking a NECK comparison. Literally one of the absolute worst pieces, in terms of flat out stats, for any single person.

Glad I spent 3000 valor points today then to upgrade my gear only to hear about this news. Time to farm back up to 3k.

That's what you get for jumping the gun so early Holyshnikies. Always wait for final confirmation of patch information before making such a decision. That said, definitely a good decision on their part for non-raiders and alts.

Considering that the last announcement (conversion announcement) was assumed to be the final desicion I don't think Holy was really in the wrong here. You can't live on the assumption that everything said might be gone back on in the days before release.

I am not blaming blizzard for changing their minds after reciving player feedback it is actually very nice to see but I HATE this mentality that players have to account for every possibility and all fault lies on them.

Also, first people say "listen to us!" and then when Blizzard listens to them they say "oh look, they're just doing whatever they are told!".

I'm 100% sure Blizzard thinks through changes and does what THEY think is best. It might not be the best choice there is, so Blizzard takes feedback and improves it. Quit trying to bash Blizzard every option you get, it gets tiresome.

Also, the change isn't as big as people think. It's not like people will be able to spend their valor for a few weeks on the new gear anyways. Starting with 0 valor now or at the start of the patch doesn't change anything except not getting any valor for a few weeks until you can spend what you have capped.

I think he was referring to the Cata losses. Still weren't 3 mil but were very very high.

This is great news! I was planning on building up a bank of valor and spending it before the patch, but now I'll spend what I need to to stay as close to 3k as I can. Then when 5.2 drops I can buy 50% or 25% off gear to fill any slots that need a bump.

And my fresh 90s should have just enough time to farm up 3k to carry into the patch. Oh happy day!

This really doenst effect hardcore raiders at all. Its still going to be better to use your valor to upgrade since there are more stats on fully upgraded 517s than fresh normal mode 522s for some unknown reason.

I thought they were removing the upgrade feature in 5.2 to prevent confusion. Did I miss another change of heart?

So when the new patch hits you can buy one new piece of gear from Shado-Pan. I've heard that every boss will give you about 500 rep each and with 12+1 boss (Ra-Den is like Sinestra heroic only?) you'll get 6000 rep the first week so you can buy another item. 2 items in the first week of normal mode quality isn't that of a game changer especially not for hardcore guilds because every hardcore guild will buy 2 pieces in the first week.

That you can keep your valor is a good change and that they upgrade the new rewards to itemlevel 496 up from 476 is good and needed. Because who would have bought the pieces? They'd cost doubled amount of valor than the old pieces and were itemlevel 476 and the old 5.0 ones are 489. They were worthless because they were more expensive and had worse stats. With itemlevel 496 they are on par with the 5.1 rewards which is good.

Just hoping that item upgrading will come back quickly because without it, there's not much to spend valor on.

If you’ve already made plans and sank your Valor, don’t fret! As of this announcement, and even if you have 0 Valor currently, you still have enough time to cap out at 3000 Valor before patch 5.2 goes live. (It’s math!)

So, even from the minute 5.2 hits, you could go pick up a new Neck, and shortly after downing some bosses (however much rep they'll give, or even from possibly championing the faction for your first Scenario + Heroic) pick up a set of Wrists, a Ring, or a Trinket.

So, even from the minute 5.2 hits, you could go pick up a new Neck, and shortly after downing some bosses (however much rep they'll give, or even from possibly championing the faction for your first Scenario + Heroic) pick up a set of Wrists, a Ring, or a Trinket.